EMU’s new shuttle service, bus passes making inroads into campus

At Eastern Michigan University, where a large portion of the student body commutes to campus on four wheels, mass transit options are gaining force. Last fall, in partnership with the Ann Arbor Transportation Authority (AATA), EMU launched a free shuttle bus program to campus and also began subsidizing bus service on other AATA routes. Both new programs have been well-received. The new service, called the West Campus Shuttle, is part of AATA Route 34. EMU students, faculty, and staff park in a free lot across from Rynearson Stadium and take the bus to three different drop-off points at no charge.  The route was instituted to alleviate car congestion and to provide a more cost-effective and eco-friendly way to land on campus. The program handled over 32,000 riders last fall. "In many cases we see people waiting in parking lots, waiting for an open space, engine idling, and wasting gas. That's obviously not good on the environment," says Walter Kraft, EMU's vice president of communications. EMU also introduced a subsidized 30-day unlimited use bus pass program for students, faculty and staff to ride other AATA routes. Passes are renewable monthly and may be used year-round. The $40 passes are a 30-percent discount off the regular $58 fare. Over 500 passes were purchased during the fall semester. Says Kraft, "Supporting our students and faculty and staff and helping them find both easy ways to park and access the university and get here in a way that supports being more green is very important to us, and we're going to continue to look for opportunities to do projects like this." Source: Walter Kraft, EMU's vice president of communications Writer: Tanya Muzumdar